Is this possible?

Having monitored prices for a few months, I booked Christmas flights in June DXB-LHR-DXB, 8 - 23rd December. At the time I considered myself luckly to get K and S class tickets as only W's had been available.

I also thought that with an S we might get an opportunity to upgrade on the night flight home. However 2 months on I have been regularly checking the website and no joy. I checked expert flyer today and the flight is filling up. I also checked VS and to my shock, K class are now available.

So we have S class tickets for the DXB return, with little chance of upgrade. Is is possible to downgrade this leg to K class? It would save us around £480.

I can cancel the whole trip and rebook, but this would cost around £200 each - losing most of the money I could have saved.

Gratefuly for any advice

[Neil]

No, you can't downgrade the fare code on one leg. When you book, there is always the risk the price will go down or a cheaper fare code will become available, i guess you wouldn't be happy for Virgin to charge you more if the prices go up after you book.

I am surprised you give a figure of £200 to cancel, as any ticket with a K fare leg should be non refundable (the lowest fare code rules on a round trip apply for the whole ticket) so I would be very surprised if you can cancel. Again, if this was allowed, then all airlines would constantly have pax cancelling and re-booking every time the price went down.

Neil

I thought S and K were unrefundable.

Just a question - my ticket for JNB says cancellation charges are waived "due to illness". This seems unusually generous as I thought they would expect travel insurance to cover this.

[Darren Wheeler]

Insurance policies have an upper limit on the amount you can claim.

Mine is up to £7,500, but many are lower. A lot lower. A non-sale Z fare can soon a lot soak that up.

Thanks Guy - good point you make Neil.

The lesson is not to get scared into buying, hold out.

[Nottingham Nick]

The lesson is not to get scared into buying, hold out.

Or... once you have booked - stop looking! 8D

Nick

The lesson is not to get scared into buying, hold out.

Or... once you have booked - stop looking! 8D

Nick

I've been looking now and again since we booked miles + money MAN-MCO in January and haven't seen cheaper prices at all
26 days to go!!!! ^) ^) ^)

Graham

An update for you

I phoned Flying Club this morning on another matter (still no E tickets for a flight booked in early June) and also asked about the above.

* The Rep stated that VS had issued all upgrades for the December/January holiday period. He did not think any others would now be issued.

* A W class ticket can be downgraded for a cash refund at any time if say an S or K become available.

Thanks

[Neil]

Yes, a full round trip W can, but if it is a mix ticket with a lower fare code, then the most restrictive fare code appliesfpr the full ticket.